Accident with your teeth

Losing a permanent tooth

A permanent tooth can often be reimplanted, especially if this is done within an hour. Here’s how to do it:

1. Hold the tooth by the crown, the white part. Do not touch the root.
2. Is it dirty? Rinse the tooth briefly with milk or cold tap water. Do not scrub or dry it.
3. Carefully put the tooth back into the socket and bite gently on a piece of gauze or a cotton handkerchief.
4. Can’t get the tooth back in place? Keep the tooth in a small container of milk or wrapped in cling film with a little saliva. Never store it dry.
5. Give us a call and come straight to the dental practice.

Baby tooth missing?

We don’t put a baby tooth back in, as this could damage the permanent tooth underneath. Do make sure to have your child checked as soon as possible, so that we can be sure nothing else has been damaged.

Broken tooth?

Find the broken piece and keep it in a small container of water or milk. We can often reattach it. Please ring us to book a same-day appointment, especially if the tooth is sensitive or if you can see any redness at the fracture area.

Loose or displaced tooth?

Do not try to push the tooth back into place yourself. Do not bite down on the tooth and stick to soft foods for the time being. Call us straight away.

A sore or cut on the lip, tongue or gums?

Press a clean cloth or gauze against the wound and cool it from the outside with something cold. If the bleeding does not stop after ten minutes, or if the wound is large, go to your GP or the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsenpost).